"Thank you, Professor Oak." Jack wasn't in a hurry to open the package—he'd do it once he returned to the ranch.
"Jack, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
After finishing the official business, Professor Oak's demeanor underwent a dramatic shift. His gaze now held only that one Pokémon he had never seen before. His eyes behind his glasses seemed to practically glow with scientific curiosity.
"Is that your Pokémon?"
"Yes, this is my partner, Meltan."
"A partner... ah, yes, a partner is good."
Professor Oak's response was somewhat perfunctory, his attention clearly no longer focused on Jack but rather on the mysterious Steel-type before him.
Jack observed Professor Oak's intense, scholarly gaze and immediately understood what the professor wanted. Having dedicated most of his life to Pokémon research, Professor Oak could truly be described as "obsessed" with studying these creatures.
"Professor Oak, you'll have to ask Meltan if he's willing. I can't make decisions for him."
"Meltan, would you be willing to—"
Before Professor Oak could finish his sentence, Meltan vigorously shook its hexagonal head in refusal.
"Melo—" (No!)
"I'm sorry, Professor Oak. Meltan doesn't seem very willing."
Professor Oak looked visibly disappointed, but he forced a gracious smile and said, "Alright then. Make sure to visit Oak Laboratory if you get the chance!"
"I will!"
After saying goodbye to Ash, Jack was transported back to the ranch by Dragonite.
"So it's not a wild ranch—it's Silver Ranch," Jack said, placing his hands on his hips as he surveyed his new property.
The wooden fence was peeling, revealing weathered natural wood beneath. A Caterpie lay draped across it, basking in the warm sunlight, its red antenna swaying gently alongside the dandelions in the breeze.
The barn roof showed patches of rust, and golden sunlight fell across scattered hay bales inside.
A Rattata dragged wild wheat husks into cracks in the wall, its long tail sweeping past a dusty milk bowl abandoned in the corner.
The wooden bucket at the wellhead leaned against the stone railing. Water had collected in the groove worn smooth by years of iron chain use, reflecting the Pidgey soaring overhead.
"Let's see what Grandpa left for me."
Jack carefully opened the package. Inside were 20,000 Pokédollars, a Pokédex, five empty Poké Balls, one Poké Ball containing a starter Pokémon, a property deed, and a handwritten letter.
Jack, greetings.
My dearest grandson, if you are reading this letter, it means you have reached a suitable age. I have entrusted the deed to the ranch to Professor Oak. It holds all my pride. This is a ranch located on the outskirts of Viridian Forest. It is my most precious gift to you. I know you will bring honor to our family.
Love, Grandpa
"Melo—" (Isn't this your grandfather from that farming game?)
Meltan was born from Jack's phone, so it knew everything stored inside Jack's device extremely well. It remembered a particular farming simulation game very clearly.
"This is my golden opportunity, Meltan."
A gentle breeze swept through the ranch, passing symbolically from the previous owner to Jack. It would blow from desolation to prosperity, transforming the abandoned property into something warm and thriving, no longer desolate.
"This Pokémon is..."
Jack threw out the remaining Poké Ball. A flash of red light erupted, and a Bulbasaur appeared from within.
The Pokédex activated automatically, providing helpful information.
"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A Grass and Poison type. The seed on its back was planted at birth and grows larger as Bulbasaur grows."
"Bulba, Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur responded cheerfully to the Pokédex's mechanical voice.
"It's Bulbasaur, one of the three Kanto starter Pokémon! How cute!" Jack scooped up Bulbasaur enthusiastically, his face beaming with joy. "Please take care of me from now on, Bulbasaur!"
"Bulbasaur!"
Species: Bulbasaur
Type: Grass/Poison
Ability: Overgrow
Known Moves: Tackle, Growl, Vine Whip, Growth, Toxic
Base Stats: 318 (HP: 45; Attack: 49; Defense: 49; Special Attack: 65; Special Defense: 65; Speed: 45)
Current Mood: Happy
Physical Condition: Perfect
Friendship: 50 (You are its owner)
"Meltan, Bulbasaur's base stats are higher than yours. No wonder you couldn't beat Blaziken."
"Melo—" (What?! Base stats are just a game mechanic and have nothing to do with this world, okay? Delibird can even fight Ho-Oh! Do you believe that I, Meltan, could take on Arceus?!)
Meltan immediately became agitated. Even though it was Jack who didn't understand type matchups and recklessly took Meltan to challenge Blaziken, his base stats were indeed somewhat low—a sensitive topic.
"Bulba? Bulbasaur?"
Bulbasaur looked between Jack and Meltan in confusion, not quite understanding what they were discussing so intensely.
Jack quickly comforted both Bulbasaur and Meltan. If they kept discussing base stats, Meltan would completely lose it.
"It seems I can only understand you when you speak, Meltan."
Jack repeatedly confirmed that he could only hear "Bulba, Bulbasaur" over and over from the Grass-type, unable to comprehend its actual words.
"Bulbasaur?"
Bulbasaur looked genuinely shocked. It was the first time the Seed Pokémon had witnessed a human and Pokémon communicate so naturally and directly.
"Hahaha, Bulbasaur, this time I understood you!"
"Let's head into town to buy some supplies. I'm getting a bit hungry," Jack said, rubbing his stomach with a sheepish grin.
"Bulba, Bulbasaur~"
The ranch was severely overgrown with weeds, and the entire property looked as though it had been abandoned for quite some time. It certainly didn't seem like there would be any food available.
Half an hour later, Jack arrived at the center of Breezy Town.
"So the Pokémon world is actually this expansive! I thought only Viridian City and Pewter City were near Viridian Forest."
The Pokémon world was far more complex than the simplified map shown in the games. Even adjacent to Viridian City, there existed several small affiliated towns established specifically for building ranches and farms. At the same time, there were also ordinary vegetables and livestock—the world wasn't populated solely by Pokémon.
Jack found himself in Breezy Town, which fell under Viridian City's jurisdiction.
Exxon's Farm Shop
Wooden shelves displayed plump tomatoes, their skins still bearing traces of fresh soil. Cucumbers were piled beside them, long green specimens hanging down temptingly.
Peaches in a bamboo basket were turning a rosy red. Fruit flies buzzed persistently around them, only to be shooed away by a Butterfree flapping its delicate wings near the window.
In the corner, metal barrels supported stacked seed bags printed with images of carrots and cabbage. The mouths of the crop bags sat slightly open, spilling a few scattered vegetable seeds onto the floor.
"Young man, what can I help you with?"
It was only when Exxon addressed him that Jack remembered he was currently only thirteen years old. Although reasonably well-developed for his age, he was still just a child.
"Mr. Exxon, I'd like to purchase some seeds and farming tools. Can they be delivered to a ranch?"
Jack indicated the location of the Silver Ranch to Exxon. The farm shop's notice board clearly advertised delivery services, but Chen Zhu Ranch hadn't been operational in years, so Jack wasn't certain they would deliver that far out.
"Isn't that the abandoned ranch?"
Exxon knew all the nearby ranches and farms like the back of his hand. He distinctly remembered that particular ranch had been abandoned for quite a long time.
"This is my grandpa's ranch. I've inherited it from him."
"Managing a ranch isn't an easy undertaking—it's going to be very hard work. Why not choose to travel as a Trainer instead?"
Exxon led Jack past a small storage building where the farm tools sold by Exxon's Farm Shop were neatly displayed.
"This ranch holds my grandpa's pride, and I don't want to let it fall into complete disrepair."
As Jack spoke, he glanced down at Meltan standing beside him. The truth was, he didn't possess the natural talent required to become a successful Trainer, and Jack had nowhere else to go anyway.
Only the farming simulation game had ever made Jack feel like he possessed the talent to be a proper rancher!
Exxon didn't fully understand Jack's internal thoughts and motivations. However, he was genuinely moved by Jack's admirable ideal of inheriting and developing his family's business.
"I'll take the liberty of giving you a twenty percent discount today, as my support for your endeavor!"
"Thank you so much, Mr. Exxon!"
Jack had worried he wouldn't have enough money when he first arrived, but he certainly hadn't expected such a generous discount. He'd made a profit before even starting!